Habitat Conservation Plans

The U.S. Endangered Species Act authorizes the creation of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). They allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce conflicts between listed species and private development through a framework that benefits threatened and endangered wildlife by encouraging "creative partnerships" among conservationists, landowners, government agencies, and other interested parties. Developed through a public process, HCPs are legally binding.

A multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan is being pursued for land covered by Collier County's Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA).

Documents pertaining to this HCP are posted below. New documents will be posted as soon as received.

RLSA Habitat Conservation Plan Documents

April, 2015 (First Draft): A draft of the Eastern Collier Multiple Species HCP has been submitted to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and is under agency review. A copy of the draft HCP is available here (13.68MB). This draft will be subject to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will be made available for public comment by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The draft HCP is subject to revision based on review by the Service, the results of the NEPA analysis, and public comments.